A Michigan man is crediting his pit bull with protecting his family from an intruder.Michigan State Police told WXYZ the incident began as a botched carjacking a few blocks away from Kyle Brown's Romulus home on Friday. The suspect was running through Brown's neighborhood and jumped his fence. “As soon as I made eye to eye contact with him, I could tell by the look in his eyes and by his intent, he knew what he was doing, and it was an opportunity,” Brown said.Brown's 2-year-old pit bull, Petey, charged after the suspect. "He wasn't a big pit bull. He was a runt, only 40 pounds," Brown said. “When the pit bull came out and encountered him he immediately pulled his gun out and shot him."Despite suffering a bullet wound, Petey still managed to chase the suspect out of the yard. Officers pursuing the suspect spotted him and an exchange of gunfire began. As Brown held his bleeding dog inside his home, he saw the suspect jump the fence once more. This time, he made it inside the house. Brown, Brown's son and his son's friend were all inside.“When he got to the door, he pulled for his gun, and I’m communicating with Tommy, ‘C'mon C'mon Tommy. Hurry up.’ Unfortunately, Tommy just froze up.”The suspect barricaded himself inside the home with Brown's son's friend, 7-year-old Tommy.Tommy was released when the suspect surrendered hours later. Petey had to be euthanized because his injuries were so severe. Brown believes Petey's courage gave him and his son enough time to get out of the house and away from the gunman.“Petey didn’t make it, but you can’t be upset with him. He not only saved my life but he saved our lives,” Brown said.Police have not released the name of the intruder.

ROMULUS, Mich. —

A Michigan man is crediting his pit bull with protecting his family from an intruder.

Michigan State Police told WXYZ the incident began as a botched carjacking a few blocks away from Kyle Brown's Romulus home on Friday.

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The suspect was running through Brown's neighborhood and jumped his fence.

“As soon as I made eye to eye contact with him, I could tell by the look in his eyes and by his intent, he knew what he was doing, and it was an opportunity,” Brown said.

Brown's 2-year-old pit bull, Petey, charged after the suspect.

"He wasn't a big pit bull. He was a runt, only 40 pounds," Brown said. “When the pit bull came out and encountered him he immediately pulled his gun out and shot him."

Despite suffering a bullet wound, Petey still managed to chase the suspect out of the yard.

Officers pursuing the suspect spotted him and an exchange of gunfire began.

As Brown held his bleeding dog inside his home, he saw the suspect jump the fence once more. This time, he made it inside the house.

Brown, Brown's son and his son's friend were all inside.

“When he got to the door, he pulled for his gun, and I’m communicating with Tommy, ‘C'mon C'mon Tommy. Hurry up.’ Unfortunately, Tommy just froze up.”

The suspect barricaded himself inside the home with Brown's son's friend, 7-year-old Tommy.

Tommy was released when the suspect surrendered hours later. Petey had to be euthanized because his injuries were so severe.

Brown believes Petey's courage gave him and his son enough time to get out of the house and away from the gunman.

“Petey didn’t make it, but you can’t be upset with him. He not only saved my life but he saved our lives,” Brown said.